Mechanical accumulator for a boiler of a beverage dispensing machine

Abstract

A mechanical accumulator may be an expansion tank for a boiler, such as a boiler for a beverage dispensing machine. The mechanical accumulator may include a housing with an inner volume. The accumulator may include a barrier positioned in the inner volume and configured to translate through the inner volume. The accumulator may include a spring positioned in the inner volume and coupled to the barrier. When a force is applied to the barrier by a fluid in a first portion of the inner volume, the spring can expand and/or contract to modify a volume of the first portion of the inner volume in order to regulate a pressure of the fluid in the first portion of the inner volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage dispensing machine comprising:
 a brew chamber;   a boiler configured to provide heated, pressurized water to the brew chamber; and   an accumulator comprising:
 a housing with an inner volume; 
 a bladder positioned in the inner volume, wherein the bladder forms a barrier between a first portion of the inner volume and a second portion of the inner volume; 
 a support positioned in the second portion of the inner volume, wherein the bladder is positioned over the support; and 
 a spring positioned in the second portion of the inner volume, 
   wherein when a force is applied to the bladder by a fluid in the first portion of the inner volume, the spring expands and/or contracts in order to translate the support through the inner volume, and wherein the bladder is configured to expand and/or contract to modify a volume of the first portion of the inner volume when the support translates through the inner volume in order to regulate a pressure of the fluid in the boiler.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the support extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the bladder is positioned over the first end of the support. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the support is rounded. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the support comprises a recess extending into the support from a second end. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the spring is coupled to a protrusion in the recess of the support. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a base portion and a cover portion, and wherein a portion of the bladder is positioned in a gap between the base portion and the cover portion to form a seal between the base portion and the cover portion. 
     
     
         8 . A beverage dispensing machine comprising:
 a brew chamber;   a boiler configured to provide heated, pressurized water to the brew chamber; and   an accumulator comprising:
 a housing with an inner volume; 
 a piston positioned in the inner volume, wherein the piston forms a barrier between a first portion of the inner volume and a second portion of the inner volume; and 
 a spring positioned in the second portion of the inner volume, 
   wherein when a force is applied to the piston by a fluid in the first portion of the inner volume, the spring expands and/or contracts into order to translate the piston through the inner volume to modify a volume of the first portion of the inner volume and regulate a pressure of the fluid in the first portion of the inner volume.   
     
     
         9 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the piston extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of the piston faces the first portion of the inner volume. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the piston comprises a first recess extending into the piston from the first end of the piston. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the piston comprises a second recess extending into the piston from the second end of the piston. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the spring is coupled to a protrusion in the second recess of the piston. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage dispensing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the accumulator comprises one or more seals positioned around the piston in a gap between the piston and the housing. 
     
     
         14 . An accumulator for a beverage dispensing machine comprising:
 a housing with an inner volume;   a barrier positioned in the inner volume and configured to translate through the inner volume; and   a spring positioned in the inner volume and coupled to the barrier, wherein when a force is applied to the barrier by a fluid in a first portion of the inner volume, the spring expands and/or contracts to modify a volume of the first portion of the inner volume in order to regulate a pressure of the fluid in the first portion of the inner volume.   
     
     
         15 . The accumulator of  claim 14 , wherein the barrier comprises a bladder and a support, wherein the support is configured to translate through the inner volume to expand and/or contract the bladder. 
     
     
         16 . The accumulator of  claim 14 , wherein the barrier comprises a piston. 
     
     
         17 . The accumulator of  claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises a base portion and a cover portion, wherein the base portion and the cover portion are configured to removably coupled together to form the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The accumulator of  claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises a fluid valve. 
     
     
         19 . The accumulator of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the inner volume is between a first end of the housing and the barrier, and the spring is positioned in a second portion of the inner volume between the barrier and a second end of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The accumulator of  claim 14 , wherein the accumulator is configured to be an expansion chamber of a boiler system of the beverage dispensing machine.